Beem Weeks's Blog, page 12
April 24, 2013
Book Reviews
Interesting work, the book review. Some readers base their next purchase on the words of those who read books for a living.
A good reviewer can help a good writer sell few more copies of their hard work. Conversely, a good reviewer can steer the reader away from a book that may not be up to snuff. But the reviewer is not the final word on whether a book is worthy of a reader's fistful of dollars.
Reviewers are human, known to get it wrong every so often. I've read some books that received high praise, only to personally find them to be quite awful. (I won't name titles or authors here.) And of course, there are novels I've found to be amazing and entertaining despite the poor showing among those we trust to lead us to gold.
I'm certainly not a professional reviewer. I don't even play one on TV. I've reviewed about forty books here on my Goodreads page. They are, if nothing else, my honest opinion concerning a story that I've taken the time to read. Most of my reviews here tend to be positive--though I have read some truly terrible books in my time. The bad ones usually go ignored once I'm finished with them. No sense in wasting my time posting negativity. If asked, though, I'll gladly give the dirty lowdown on any particular piece of work that ripped me off.
I'm a writer, first and foremost. I write short stories, a novel, and once upon a time I even wrote record and concert reviews. If something moves me, I'll share this.
So now we come to my point in this posting. I read the novel Bridge Ices Before Road by Sienna Rose. I reviewed this book right here on Goodreads. I sincerely enjoyed this well-written story. If I didn't, I promise you I wouldn't have posted a review. Sienna is a talented writer, and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read and comment on her work. So it shocked me when I found a review posted on the IndieReader.com site claiming this novel failed to tie up loose ends, leaving readers hanging. This is simply not a correct portrayal of Ms. Rose's work.
This story pulled all those strands together, and matters were resolved in ways that left me both fulfilled and sad. Sad on two accounts: First, I didn't want this story to end. Second, well, I can't tell you without spoiling a key part of the book.
It just amazed me that two people reading the same book could come to such differing conclusions. I've seen it elsewhere, as well. That's the literary world we inhabit. We're going to have differences of opinion on whether a story is good or it sucks. That's not the issue here. This revolves around whether it ended one way or the other. That's like reporting Dorothy never found her way home in The Wizard Of Oz. Critique the story, don't rewrite it.
Anyway, that's my two cents on the subject. I felt the need to speak up because Bridge Ices Before Road is a read worth discovering. There are no issues with the way the story concludes--just a hint of sadness. I understand reviewers have a job to do, but get it right, good review or bad. And just for the record, I seriously LOVE the IndieReader.com site. I use it regularly to find good reads. They've never let me down--until this particular review. Peace.
A good reviewer can help a good writer sell few more copies of their hard work. Conversely, a good reviewer can steer the reader away from a book that may not be up to snuff. But the reviewer is not the final word on whether a book is worthy of a reader's fistful of dollars.
Reviewers are human, known to get it wrong every so often. I've read some books that received high praise, only to personally find them to be quite awful. (I won't name titles or authors here.) And of course, there are novels I've found to be amazing and entertaining despite the poor showing among those we trust to lead us to gold.
I'm certainly not a professional reviewer. I don't even play one on TV. I've reviewed about forty books here on my Goodreads page. They are, if nothing else, my honest opinion concerning a story that I've taken the time to read. Most of my reviews here tend to be positive--though I have read some truly terrible books in my time. The bad ones usually go ignored once I'm finished with them. No sense in wasting my time posting negativity. If asked, though, I'll gladly give the dirty lowdown on any particular piece of work that ripped me off.
I'm a writer, first and foremost. I write short stories, a novel, and once upon a time I even wrote record and concert reviews. If something moves me, I'll share this.
So now we come to my point in this posting. I read the novel Bridge Ices Before Road by Sienna Rose. I reviewed this book right here on Goodreads. I sincerely enjoyed this well-written story. If I didn't, I promise you I wouldn't have posted a review. Sienna is a talented writer, and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read and comment on her work. So it shocked me when I found a review posted on the IndieReader.com site claiming this novel failed to tie up loose ends, leaving readers hanging. This is simply not a correct portrayal of Ms. Rose's work.
This story pulled all those strands together, and matters were resolved in ways that left me both fulfilled and sad. Sad on two accounts: First, I didn't want this story to end. Second, well, I can't tell you without spoiling a key part of the book.
It just amazed me that two people reading the same book could come to such differing conclusions. I've seen it elsewhere, as well. That's the literary world we inhabit. We're going to have differences of opinion on whether a story is good or it sucks. That's not the issue here. This revolves around whether it ended one way or the other. That's like reporting Dorothy never found her way home in The Wizard Of Oz. Critique the story, don't rewrite it.
Anyway, that's my two cents on the subject. I felt the need to speak up because Bridge Ices Before Road is a read worth discovering. There are no issues with the way the story concludes--just a hint of sadness. I understand reviewers have a job to do, but get it right, good review or bad. And just for the record, I seriously LOVE the IndieReader.com site. I use it regularly to find good reads. They've never let me down--until this particular review. Peace.
April 20, 2013
Indie Is...
Indie. The word saturates the cyber world like blood on a battlefield. Those who claim this name wear it with pride. But what exactly is indie? The Oxford American College Dictionary defines indie as: adj.(of a pop group or record label) not belonging to or affiliated with a major record company;(of a movie) not produced by a major studio.
Since my dictionary saw it's birth a dozen years ago, it fails to mention indie in terms of writers. In 2001, there wasn't the glut of online publishing available that we enjoy today.
Everybody is indie today. It's a badge of courage worn with a fierce streak of, well, independence. That's what indie really is, after all. We are independent of the big companies that tell authors the who, what, where, when, and how-much-we'll-pay-you-for-it old order of business. But is indie really all it's hyped up to be? Or is it, as many would have us believe, just the poor man's route to becoming published?
Since 2001, the publication date on the above-mentioned Oxford American, the world has witnessed a super-explosion in online publishers. There's a million of the little buggers, each promising that you, too, can be just like Stephen King or J. K. Rowling or Stephenie Meyer, selling millions of copies of your story to devoted fans around the globe. Everybody is an author in today's world. "Have an idea? Write it down and we'll get it to eager readers worldwide." It's seriously that easy. "Can't spell? Don't you fret none. We'll still get that book into print--for just a few hundred dollars up front, please."
Not every indie author is a writer. There are plenty out there who need crash courses on sentence construction, character development, proper POV, or all of the above. But for every ten bad ones, there are gems and amazing finds waiting for discovery. What's the difference between indie author Stephen Geez and megastar Stephen King? Geez is a better writer! Don't misunderstand me; King is a fantastic storyteller. But that doesn't make him a great writer. Geez scores well on both accounts. Usually, if you can do one or the other, you'll do well as an author; readers will buy your work and find themselves entertained by your imagination.
Those who aren't skilled in telling stories or constructing sentences are the ones laying that black mark against indie--the mark that says all indie authors suck, the stories are garbage, the quality isn't worth a dime. But that's so far from the truth. Indie writers are some of the absolute best in the trade. I've been privileged to discover many of these bright voices. Lately I'm buying and reading more indie authors than I am the established corporate writers.
Look what indie-produced music has done to the record industry. Big labels are fighting for their survival against the digital revolution. Have a band? Record your song with software on your laptop, mix it with that same computer, and promote it on YouTube. Bands and singers are selling millions of downloads, leaving the once-greedy corporations scrambling for the loose change that slips through an open hand. That will be the world of publishing before too long. More and more readers are discovering great stories at lower prices. And if they like a novel, they can email the author and tell him/her so. Can you email J. K. Rowling or Stephenie Meyer with a realistic expectation of hearing back from them?
Take heart, fellow indies; we're already on board this fast moving train to the future of publishing. Dig in and make names for yourselves, your brand, your work. Great stories outlive their creators. A memorable read has made many a writer immortal.
Since my dictionary saw it's birth a dozen years ago, it fails to mention indie in terms of writers. In 2001, there wasn't the glut of online publishing available that we enjoy today.
Everybody is indie today. It's a badge of courage worn with a fierce streak of, well, independence. That's what indie really is, after all. We are independent of the big companies that tell authors the who, what, where, when, and how-much-we'll-pay-you-for-it old order of business. But is indie really all it's hyped up to be? Or is it, as many would have us believe, just the poor man's route to becoming published?
Since 2001, the publication date on the above-mentioned Oxford American, the world has witnessed a super-explosion in online publishers. There's a million of the little buggers, each promising that you, too, can be just like Stephen King or J. K. Rowling or Stephenie Meyer, selling millions of copies of your story to devoted fans around the globe. Everybody is an author in today's world. "Have an idea? Write it down and we'll get it to eager readers worldwide." It's seriously that easy. "Can't spell? Don't you fret none. We'll still get that book into print--for just a few hundred dollars up front, please."
Not every indie author is a writer. There are plenty out there who need crash courses on sentence construction, character development, proper POV, or all of the above. But for every ten bad ones, there are gems and amazing finds waiting for discovery. What's the difference between indie author Stephen Geez and megastar Stephen King? Geez is a better writer! Don't misunderstand me; King is a fantastic storyteller. But that doesn't make him a great writer. Geez scores well on both accounts. Usually, if you can do one or the other, you'll do well as an author; readers will buy your work and find themselves entertained by your imagination.
Those who aren't skilled in telling stories or constructing sentences are the ones laying that black mark against indie--the mark that says all indie authors suck, the stories are garbage, the quality isn't worth a dime. But that's so far from the truth. Indie writers are some of the absolute best in the trade. I've been privileged to discover many of these bright voices. Lately I'm buying and reading more indie authors than I am the established corporate writers.
Look what indie-produced music has done to the record industry. Big labels are fighting for their survival against the digital revolution. Have a band? Record your song with software on your laptop, mix it with that same computer, and promote it on YouTube. Bands and singers are selling millions of downloads, leaving the once-greedy corporations scrambling for the loose change that slips through an open hand. That will be the world of publishing before too long. More and more readers are discovering great stories at lower prices. And if they like a novel, they can email the author and tell him/her so. Can you email J. K. Rowling or Stephenie Meyer with a realistic expectation of hearing back from them?
Take heart, fellow indies; we're already on board this fast moving train to the future of publishing. Dig in and make names for yourselves, your brand, your work. Great stories outlive their creators. A memorable read has made many a writer immortal.
April 9, 2013
New York Rock-N-Roll
It's the mid 1980s, the height of hair-band-heaven. Every stage in every club across the United States sports a band dreaming of becoming the next Quiet Riot, the next Ratt, or maybe even the heirs apparent to the mighty Motley Crue. Most of those would-be rock stars fell well-short of the ultimate prize. Lack of talent killed off many of those dreams. Drugs and alcohol took down others--a case of partying like rock stars before ever achieving the actual status.
But those of us old enough to remember wading into the crowded clubs of, say, 1986, remember some of the good ones; those bands that had the talent, wrote their own material, had the look. These were bands that should have made the jump to the big time.
One band in particular was a four-piece from Rock Hill, South Carolina, called New York. I must have seen these guys a hundred times. I'd seen dozens of really good bands at the Silver Dollar Saloon in Lansing, Michigan, got to know many of the musicians, became supporters of the better ones. But New York had that something else that the others all lacked. When seeing them on stage, you just knew it was only a matter of time until they were snatched away to bigger and better stages. They even recorded a great EP, called Carry The Torch, which featured some truly amazing music. Then came a full-length album, entitled Electric Thunder, that they never released but shopped around for that inevitable record deal.
And guess what? That record deal actually came. Yeah, a big label came snooping around and decided to give these guys a break. But this was the 1980s, the time of monster record companies dictating all the ins and outs of the rock and roll game. In their infinite wisdom, these boneheads convinced this amazing band to fire their bass player--a founding member--because he didn't fit the newly imagined image. Enter a new guy. Good bass player but not one of the family. Things deteriorated quickly, the record deal went away, and the guys in New York eventually called it a day. A true shame, indeed. This was a talented band that deserved to be up there with Motley Crue and Warrant and Poison.
New York had the music, the look, and the following. But they had something else that's infinitely greater than what most bands brought to the table. These guys treated their fans like friends--some were even treated like family. Jimmy Ennis, the talented singer-guitarist, gave me and my then-girlfriend a bootleg copy of their unreleased album. I still own a bootleg of that bootleg on cassette (when the girlfriend left, she took the actual tape). I've also retained an ancient recording of their EP. This music still holds up today. Their songs are on YouTube, posted by Mr. Ennis.
The others in this fantastic band included Freddy Foster on bass, Johnny Glover, an incredible lead guitar player, and Michael Constable on drums. There were other amazing drummers to play for New York, like Rikk Haynes, who can be heard banging the skins on the Carry The Torch EP, and Michael Scott Mills, who recorded most of the Electric Thunder album--late Kiss drummer Eric Carr plays on one of the tracks on the album--but it's Michael Constable that I think of when I recall those wonderful times from so long ago.
We were young back then, believing the fun would never stop, those nights would go on just the way they had been. But that could never be. This world doesn't play by those rules. New York broke up, I'm nearing fifty, and the Silver Dollar Saloon closed its doors and is now an empty lot. But there are still many fond memories to ponder.
When I hear New York rock and roll, I can close my eyes and reconstruct that fabled club, those nights buzzed on pitchers of Budweiser, the smell of my girl's perfume, the warmth of her body next to mine as we moved across the dance floor.
So, a big thank you to Jimmy, Johnny, Freddy, and Michael for being a major part of the soundtrack of my life--and the lives of countless others. New * York still ROCKS! Don't believe me? Just have a listen for yourselves. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFpaSU... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFzC_b... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZyUSy... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz8CRP... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxtD_H...
But those of us old enough to remember wading into the crowded clubs of, say, 1986, remember some of the good ones; those bands that had the talent, wrote their own material, had the look. These were bands that should have made the jump to the big time.
One band in particular was a four-piece from Rock Hill, South Carolina, called New York. I must have seen these guys a hundred times. I'd seen dozens of really good bands at the Silver Dollar Saloon in Lansing, Michigan, got to know many of the musicians, became supporters of the better ones. But New York had that something else that the others all lacked. When seeing them on stage, you just knew it was only a matter of time until they were snatched away to bigger and better stages. They even recorded a great EP, called Carry The Torch, which featured some truly amazing music. Then came a full-length album, entitled Electric Thunder, that they never released but shopped around for that inevitable record deal.
And guess what? That record deal actually came. Yeah, a big label came snooping around and decided to give these guys a break. But this was the 1980s, the time of monster record companies dictating all the ins and outs of the rock and roll game. In their infinite wisdom, these boneheads convinced this amazing band to fire their bass player--a founding member--because he didn't fit the newly imagined image. Enter a new guy. Good bass player but not one of the family. Things deteriorated quickly, the record deal went away, and the guys in New York eventually called it a day. A true shame, indeed. This was a talented band that deserved to be up there with Motley Crue and Warrant and Poison.
New York had the music, the look, and the following. But they had something else that's infinitely greater than what most bands brought to the table. These guys treated their fans like friends--some were even treated like family. Jimmy Ennis, the talented singer-guitarist, gave me and my then-girlfriend a bootleg copy of their unreleased album. I still own a bootleg of that bootleg on cassette (when the girlfriend left, she took the actual tape). I've also retained an ancient recording of their EP. This music still holds up today. Their songs are on YouTube, posted by Mr. Ennis.
The others in this fantastic band included Freddy Foster on bass, Johnny Glover, an incredible lead guitar player, and Michael Constable on drums. There were other amazing drummers to play for New York, like Rikk Haynes, who can be heard banging the skins on the Carry The Torch EP, and Michael Scott Mills, who recorded most of the Electric Thunder album--late Kiss drummer Eric Carr plays on one of the tracks on the album--but it's Michael Constable that I think of when I recall those wonderful times from so long ago.
We were young back then, believing the fun would never stop, those nights would go on just the way they had been. But that could never be. This world doesn't play by those rules. New York broke up, I'm nearing fifty, and the Silver Dollar Saloon closed its doors and is now an empty lot. But there are still many fond memories to ponder.
When I hear New York rock and roll, I can close my eyes and reconstruct that fabled club, those nights buzzed on pitchers of Budweiser, the smell of my girl's perfume, the warmth of her body next to mine as we moved across the dance floor.
So, a big thank you to Jimmy, Johnny, Freddy, and Michael for being a major part of the soundtrack of my life--and the lives of countless others. New * York still ROCKS! Don't believe me? Just have a listen for yourselves. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFpaSU... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFzC_b... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZyUSy... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz8CRP... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxtD_H...
The Caller From Hell
I know I'm not alone in this situation. Let me explain. My mother, retired, decided to look into refinanceing her home as a means of lowering her monthly mortgage payment. She shopped around, called several institutions, searched for the best deal.
One of those institutions happened to be Quicken Loans. You've probably heard their ads on the radio, the ones touting fast, friendly service, all told in a sun-shiny voice. Mom didn't choose Quicken Loans, though. And she told them, too, that she decided to go with another institution. She told them again the second time they called, still seeking to grab her as a customer.
Then the calls came like clock work, Monday thru Friday, between 8:30 and 9:00AM for the next six weeks. It didn't matter that she let the answering machine pick up the calls. Aaron, the Quicken Loans sales-jerk, just kept up his sell-job. Next, she turned off the machine. Sadly, this didn't hinder the guy either. He'd let that phone ring and ring until it became so damn annoying.
Mom then decided to call a higher-up at Quicken Loans, was told not to fret, they'd see to it the calls stopped. Aaron was on the line the very next day--and every working day after that!
Finally came the decision to file a complaint with the state's Attorney General. Information was taken, names given, promises to look into this harassment were issued. A week later, Aaron's still calling.
Why this level of aggression? All Mom did was call around, shopping for the best deal. None of the other refinancing companies invaded her privacy the way Quicken Loans has; they all understood when she told them she'd chosen another. The point of this posting is to vent frustration, sure, but also to warn others about the caller from hell. Beware Quicken Loans. They refuse to be ignored!
One of those institutions happened to be Quicken Loans. You've probably heard their ads on the radio, the ones touting fast, friendly service, all told in a sun-shiny voice. Mom didn't choose Quicken Loans, though. And she told them, too, that she decided to go with another institution. She told them again the second time they called, still seeking to grab her as a customer.
Then the calls came like clock work, Monday thru Friday, between 8:30 and 9:00AM for the next six weeks. It didn't matter that she let the answering machine pick up the calls. Aaron, the Quicken Loans sales-jerk, just kept up his sell-job. Next, she turned off the machine. Sadly, this didn't hinder the guy either. He'd let that phone ring and ring until it became so damn annoying.
Mom then decided to call a higher-up at Quicken Loans, was told not to fret, they'd see to it the calls stopped. Aaron was on the line the very next day--and every working day after that!
Finally came the decision to file a complaint with the state's Attorney General. Information was taken, names given, promises to look into this harassment were issued. A week later, Aaron's still calling.
Why this level of aggression? All Mom did was call around, shopping for the best deal. None of the other refinancing companies invaded her privacy the way Quicken Loans has; they all understood when she told them she'd chosen another. The point of this posting is to vent frustration, sure, but also to warn others about the caller from hell. Beware Quicken Loans. They refuse to be ignored!
April 7, 2013
Tag, you're it!
Okay, so here's a fun little game that hopefully will spread the indie word. Being “IT” means that you share information about your “work in progress” also known as “WIP” The Rules 1.) Give credit (including a link) to the Author who tagged you. 2.)Play by the rules, therefore you must post the rules! 3.)You MUST answer all 10 questions (below) some are quite hard but do your best. 4.)List five other Authors with links at the end that you have “tagged” so that the game can continue.
Link Back
The indie writer who tagged me is Dawn Husted. She is the author of a WIP called Safe, as well as published works like Nicova, Silently Screaming, and Windor Series. Her blog address is http://dawnhusted.weebly.com/1/post/2...
Q1.) What is the title or working title of your WIP?
The Secret Collector.
Q2.) What genres does your novel fall under?
Historical fiction/coming-of-age (Same as my first novel, Jazz Baby, though a decade earlier.)
Q3.) What actors (Dream Cast) would you choose to play the characters in a film version?
I haven't really given that angle any thought. I could see a cast of up-and-comers, the ones who would make their names on a piece like this, the way so many eighties actors became names after filming The Outsiders. If I had to choose one, Chloe Grace Moretz as lead character Violet Glass.
Q4.) What is the main outline for your book?
15-year-old Violet collects secrets of those family and friends around her. Some are benign secrets, little things that are more embarrassing than serious. But then there are those secrets that could destroy friendships and family ties. And she has her own secrets to protect, as well. It's 1910 and slavery only ended a generation earlier. Emotions are still quite raw on both sides of the issue. Woman are a full ten years from the right to vote. These things mold and shape Violet, who she is, who she'll become.
Q5.) Will your book be Indie published/self published, or represented by an agency and sold to a traditional publisher?
It's going to be the indie route again. I'll go with The Fresh Ink Group for this book, same as I did for my first novel Jazz Baby. They do phenomenal work. Yeah, I'd love to have that big publisher budget for publicity, but that's not likely to happen anytime soon. Besides, indie is the wave of the future. We'll have to wait and see how far this format can go.
Q6.) How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?
The first draft isn't even completed yet. I'm just at five chapters in. That's taken about two months to write. I'm notoriously slow when it comes to writing. Jazz Baby took nearly a decade from start to publication. But that's due to many re-writes (I believe strongly in the re-write process) and my giving up on the story a time or two. I had to be talked into finishing the story by a good friend.
Q7.) What other books in this genre would you compare your book to?
I guess I haven't thought about that. There's one novel I read about ten years ago, The Midwife's Advice by Gay Courter. That story isn't so much an inspiration as it is a thought. Same era, different region of the United States. Maybe there are elements from a film like, say, Paris Trout, starring Dennis Hopper.
Q8.) Who or what inspired you to write this book?
The era inspired me. Early 1900s America is an interesting time. And the idea of a girl, a young woman, who is able to keep secrets that could destroy lives is very intresting to me.
Q9.) What else about the book might pique readers attention?
Sexuality. Betrayal. Dark voodoo overtones. Zombie-vampires who fall in love with werewolves--JUST KIDDING!
Q10.) Five other Indie Authors you have tagged
Sienna Rose http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
Richard Van Holst http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
Christoph Fischer http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
Liam Perrin http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
Carol Traulsen http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/18...
Link Back
The indie writer who tagged me is Dawn Husted. She is the author of a WIP called Safe, as well as published works like Nicova, Silently Screaming, and Windor Series. Her blog address is http://dawnhusted.weebly.com/1/post/2...
Q1.) What is the title or working title of your WIP?
The Secret Collector.
Q2.) What genres does your novel fall under?
Historical fiction/coming-of-age (Same as my first novel, Jazz Baby, though a decade earlier.)
Q3.) What actors (Dream Cast) would you choose to play the characters in a film version?
I haven't really given that angle any thought. I could see a cast of up-and-comers, the ones who would make their names on a piece like this, the way so many eighties actors became names after filming The Outsiders. If I had to choose one, Chloe Grace Moretz as lead character Violet Glass.
Q4.) What is the main outline for your book?
15-year-old Violet collects secrets of those family and friends around her. Some are benign secrets, little things that are more embarrassing than serious. But then there are those secrets that could destroy friendships and family ties. And she has her own secrets to protect, as well. It's 1910 and slavery only ended a generation earlier. Emotions are still quite raw on both sides of the issue. Woman are a full ten years from the right to vote. These things mold and shape Violet, who she is, who she'll become.
Q5.) Will your book be Indie published/self published, or represented by an agency and sold to a traditional publisher?
It's going to be the indie route again. I'll go with The Fresh Ink Group for this book, same as I did for my first novel Jazz Baby. They do phenomenal work. Yeah, I'd love to have that big publisher budget for publicity, but that's not likely to happen anytime soon. Besides, indie is the wave of the future. We'll have to wait and see how far this format can go.
Q6.) How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?
The first draft isn't even completed yet. I'm just at five chapters in. That's taken about two months to write. I'm notoriously slow when it comes to writing. Jazz Baby took nearly a decade from start to publication. But that's due to many re-writes (I believe strongly in the re-write process) and my giving up on the story a time or two. I had to be talked into finishing the story by a good friend.
Q7.) What other books in this genre would you compare your book to?
I guess I haven't thought about that. There's one novel I read about ten years ago, The Midwife's Advice by Gay Courter. That story isn't so much an inspiration as it is a thought. Same era, different region of the United States. Maybe there are elements from a film like, say, Paris Trout, starring Dennis Hopper.
Q8.) Who or what inspired you to write this book?
The era inspired me. Early 1900s America is an interesting time. And the idea of a girl, a young woman, who is able to keep secrets that could destroy lives is very intresting to me.
Q9.) What else about the book might pique readers attention?
Sexuality. Betrayal. Dark voodoo overtones. Zombie-vampires who fall in love with werewolves--JUST KIDDING!
Q10.) Five other Indie Authors you have tagged
Sienna Rose http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
Richard Van Holst http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
Christoph Fischer http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
Liam Perrin http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
Carol Traulsen http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/18...
March 30, 2013
Publicity For Our Work
Greetings, all. I hope everybody is enjoying this day--or evening, morning, or night, depending on your location.
If you're on this site, chances are you've written something of which you're extremely proud. It might be poetry, short stories, essays, or even a book or two. Maybe you just love to read. But if you've written something you're trying to share with the world, well then, this is the place to be.
I've said in previous postings that the difficult part isn't in writing the story, it's in getting word out about this labor of love that is our creation. Check out all that minute-by-minute tweeting, telling anybody who's following you on Twitter to BUY THIS BOOK! It works, sure, to an extent. I've moved a few copies through the use of the Twitterverse. And it's really raised my profile as a writer. One tweet can send a dozen new readers to my homepage for a quick read of a short story I've just posted. We see the increase in traffic at the site. But what about the bigger picture? How do we expand on this notion of moving even more copies of our work? How can we make our name stand out beyond those 140 characters we're limited to on Twitter? Facebook is fine--if you have the friends.
What every good writer needs, though, is reviews. That's what I'm getting at. REVIEWS! Having a site like Goodreads is fantastic for scoring reviews. We writers often trade them like kids trading baseball cards on a hot summer day. These reviews are vital. They give potential readers an educated opinion on whether the book at hand is worth the money or not--if the review is truthful. But what about reviews that aren't bartered? How do we score those?
Sometimes reviewers come looking for us, as has happened to me twice in the previous few weeks. (A couple of reviews and interviews can be found at http://www.tinyurl.com/cd7ptt4 and http://www.prideseries.com/blog.html )
However, as indie authors, we can't sit around waiting for the emails to fill our in-boxes. I can't afford a publicist to do the footwork for me, so I have to solicit these reviews myself. And this is the tough part, tracking down reviewers that possess a strong following and a good reputation. There aren't any trades involved this way, which means the review will certainly be honest, maybe even negative. But don't be afraid of a bad review--those WILL come, no doubt about it. Nobody has written that perfect novel, a work that's enjoyed by every soul who's read it. Even the greats get bad ink from time to time.
What we must do is take those reviews and pay attention to what's been pointed out as a fault in the story. If the reviewer found the lead character lacking credibility, make the protagonist in your next story more human. Add flaws and irritations. Learn from these criticisms. Don't just scan for the superlatives and disregard the rest. How will you ever become a better writer? Be proud of the good reviews, though. Post those links on Twitter, your blogs, Facebook, and your website. Let the world know what other people are saying about your work.
So, then, where do we find these reviewers? How do we convince them to give our work a chance? We could beg, I suppose. If that worked, I'd be a begging fool. But there's an easier way. My publisher sent me a link to a site that lists dozens of review blogs. I've only just started using this list so I can't give a progress report yet. I'm not a professional at this publicity stuff, either. I'm learning as I go along. What have I learned so far? If you're self-published or working with a small publisher, don't waste the time, money, or effort on getting your work to mainstream newspapers. I sent 35 copies to newspapers around the United States and have yet to hear a word back--not even a rejection. Besides, the internet is where the real action is these days.
I've also learned patience. If the work being promoted is good, a few readers is all it takes to get the publicity ball rolling. Word of mouth these days utilizes the internet, reaches worldwide, and remains out there long after it's been posted.
One last thing on the idea of trading reviews: This is a GREAT way to get your work in front of potential readers. I highly recommend this route. You'll discover some really amazing writers who'll quickly become favorites. However, if you agree to trade reviews with a fellow author, hold up your end of the deal. There's nothing as rude and inconsiderate as one writer stiffing another. I speak from experience. I took the time to BUY a writer's novel, read it, posted reviews on a couple of sites, and I haven't heard a peep from the other guy in over a month. (He promised to have my book finished and reviews posted by the end of February.) I won't remove those reviews; he earned them. But I won't buy his work again, either. So now I give to you a link. Use it to it's fullest potential. Chase those reviewers down and ask for some recognition. Have fun with the process, because if it's not fun, it's not worth doing!
http://www.stepbystepselfpublishing.net/
If you're on this site, chances are you've written something of which you're extremely proud. It might be poetry, short stories, essays, or even a book or two. Maybe you just love to read. But if you've written something you're trying to share with the world, well then, this is the place to be.
I've said in previous postings that the difficult part isn't in writing the story, it's in getting word out about this labor of love that is our creation. Check out all that minute-by-minute tweeting, telling anybody who's following you on Twitter to BUY THIS BOOK! It works, sure, to an extent. I've moved a few copies through the use of the Twitterverse. And it's really raised my profile as a writer. One tweet can send a dozen new readers to my homepage for a quick read of a short story I've just posted. We see the increase in traffic at the site. But what about the bigger picture? How do we expand on this notion of moving even more copies of our work? How can we make our name stand out beyond those 140 characters we're limited to on Twitter? Facebook is fine--if you have the friends.
What every good writer needs, though, is reviews. That's what I'm getting at. REVIEWS! Having a site like Goodreads is fantastic for scoring reviews. We writers often trade them like kids trading baseball cards on a hot summer day. These reviews are vital. They give potential readers an educated opinion on whether the book at hand is worth the money or not--if the review is truthful. But what about reviews that aren't bartered? How do we score those?
Sometimes reviewers come looking for us, as has happened to me twice in the previous few weeks. (A couple of reviews and interviews can be found at http://www.tinyurl.com/cd7ptt4 and http://www.prideseries.com/blog.html )
However, as indie authors, we can't sit around waiting for the emails to fill our in-boxes. I can't afford a publicist to do the footwork for me, so I have to solicit these reviews myself. And this is the tough part, tracking down reviewers that possess a strong following and a good reputation. There aren't any trades involved this way, which means the review will certainly be honest, maybe even negative. But don't be afraid of a bad review--those WILL come, no doubt about it. Nobody has written that perfect novel, a work that's enjoyed by every soul who's read it. Even the greats get bad ink from time to time.
What we must do is take those reviews and pay attention to what's been pointed out as a fault in the story. If the reviewer found the lead character lacking credibility, make the protagonist in your next story more human. Add flaws and irritations. Learn from these criticisms. Don't just scan for the superlatives and disregard the rest. How will you ever become a better writer? Be proud of the good reviews, though. Post those links on Twitter, your blogs, Facebook, and your website. Let the world know what other people are saying about your work.
So, then, where do we find these reviewers? How do we convince them to give our work a chance? We could beg, I suppose. If that worked, I'd be a begging fool. But there's an easier way. My publisher sent me a link to a site that lists dozens of review blogs. I've only just started using this list so I can't give a progress report yet. I'm not a professional at this publicity stuff, either. I'm learning as I go along. What have I learned so far? If you're self-published or working with a small publisher, don't waste the time, money, or effort on getting your work to mainstream newspapers. I sent 35 copies to newspapers around the United States and have yet to hear a word back--not even a rejection. Besides, the internet is where the real action is these days.
I've also learned patience. If the work being promoted is good, a few readers is all it takes to get the publicity ball rolling. Word of mouth these days utilizes the internet, reaches worldwide, and remains out there long after it's been posted.
One last thing on the idea of trading reviews: This is a GREAT way to get your work in front of potential readers. I highly recommend this route. You'll discover some really amazing writers who'll quickly become favorites. However, if you agree to trade reviews with a fellow author, hold up your end of the deal. There's nothing as rude and inconsiderate as one writer stiffing another. I speak from experience. I took the time to BUY a writer's novel, read it, posted reviews on a couple of sites, and I haven't heard a peep from the other guy in over a month. (He promised to have my book finished and reviews posted by the end of February.) I won't remove those reviews; he earned them. But I won't buy his work again, either. So now I give to you a link. Use it to it's fullest potential. Chase those reviewers down and ask for some recognition. Have fun with the process, because if it's not fun, it's not worth doing!
http://www.stepbystepselfpublishing.net/
March 29, 2013
Reviews/Interviews
I've been blessed with a bounty of good publicity over the last couple of weeks. It's taken a lot of hard work, but it's starting to pay off. Here are the recent links:
http://writerchristophfischer.wordpre...
http://www.prideseries.com/blog.html
http://www.bookloads.weebly.com/ (click on Recently Added Books)
http://www.theindietribe.wordpress.com (click on Top Ten Indie Books)
I am quite thrilled and humbled to see this recent burst of interest in my work. Extra big thank you to author Sienna Rose for her kindness and help in the publicity area. Much of this is not possible without her help.
http://writerchristophfischer.wordpre...
http://www.prideseries.com/blog.html
http://www.bookloads.weebly.com/ (click on Recently Added Books)
http://www.theindietribe.wordpress.com (click on Top Ten Indie Books)
I am quite thrilled and humbled to see this recent burst of interest in my work. Extra big thank you to author Sienna Rose for her kindness and help in the publicity area. Much of this is not possible without her help.
March 24, 2013
Indie Tribe Top Ten
A big THANK YOU to all those who have taken an interest in my novel Jazz Baby. Your interest helped put it at number one on this week's Indie Tribe Top Ten. I am stunned and amazed by this news. Thank you all so much.
An extra huge CONGRATULATIONS to Sienna Rose. Her fantastic novel Bridge Ices Before Road is at number five on this week's Indie Tribe Top Ten. Good job, Sienna.
You can see this week's list at http://www.theindietribe.wordpress.com
An extra huge CONGRATULATIONS to Sienna Rose. Her fantastic novel Bridge Ices Before Road is at number five on this week's Indie Tribe Top Ten. Good job, Sienna.
You can see this week's list at http://www.theindietribe.wordpress.com
March 23, 2013
That Which Has Been Shall Be Again
I participated in an interview with a website this afternoon. The interview is in support of my novel Jazz Baby. A question arose concerning the era in which I set the story, and why I chose it.
I set Jazz Baby in the year 1925. It takes place in Mississippi and New Orleans. The Roaring Twenties have long fascinated me. I remember vividly the stories my grandparents used to share, regaling my then-young mind with tales of life in the 1920s and 1930s. Over the years, I've done much research on the era--especially when preparing to write Jazz Baby. I've read books and magazines about the era, watched documentaries containing actual flappers and hepcats from those bygone days. Those oldsters sure come alive when discussing that golden decade. The reason? Everything was new.
Those who came up in the twenties witnessed the birth of America as we know it today. Prior to the 1920s, if you wanted to take a trip into town, you likely had to hitch up the horses to the wagon and hope to get back before sundown or rain. If you wanted to hear the latest music, you'd purchase the sheet music at your local music store and play it at home on the family piano. Mom or sis usually knew how to play. A night out for couples might consist of dinner and a walk through the park. Man had saloons in which to drown his sorrows if he'd yet to find that special girl to call on. He'd not likely meet her in said saloon, though, since no self-respecting woman would be caught dead--or alive--in a saloon. Besides, many communities had laws against women entering drinking establishments.
But everything changed after the First World War ended, when the dawn of the 1920s rolled in with a great big bang. Horse and wagon? Not anymore. The twenties saw the automobile become a common fixture among families all across the nation. A trip into town could be had simply by climbing into the Model T and driving there. And you could even drive to the next town and still be home before sundown. Dinner and a walk through the park gave way to picture shows on the big screen. Theaters sprouted up in every city, every town, every village. For a dime, a patron might catch the latest Clara Bow film or laugh at Charlie Chaplin. Who needed the park anymore?
The decade witnessed the birth of radio and the mass production of the phonograph player, which allowed common folks the ability to hear the latest popular songs--played by a full band--right there in the parlor of their own home.
Prohibition brought an end to the saloon. But prohibition also gave birth to the speakeasy, that secret place where the young congregated to drink their bootleg hooch, learn all the latest moves out on those makeshift dance floors, and stay out until all hours of the night. Speakeasies didn't belong to men; they were shared adventures.
In 1920, after decades of political denial, beatings, and even jailings, women had finally won the right to vote. They had gained a grip on the taut strings of power.
Flappers dictated the latest fashion trends, taking the hemline higher and the neckline lower. Sexuality slipped into polite company in ways that once scandalized earlier generations. Even Hollywood dared a little more skin in the productions they peddled equally to small towns and big cities. The young ones coming up in that decade knew of no other way. It was a new and exciting time to come of age.
As I pondered the interview question, it struck me that those youngsters coming up in the Roaring Twenties had a lot more in common with young adults growing up in the decade of the 2000s than most might suspect. Today's young, born in the 1990's, can't recall a time when smart phones, x-box, or the internet didn't exist. They've always had social media, iPods, and cable TV with its 500 channels. It's a new age, and they were born into it.
Some of us are old enough to remember television with its three channels, phone calls made from payphones, and a time when Atari's Pong was the only video game on the market. Computers? They were for managing household budgets and little else. When you needed information, you had to go to the library, search the card catalog, find the book or resource material, and turn pages to find the info.
We wrote letters to friends and loved ones--using paper and pencil, full words, and proper sentences. We didn't text short messages filled with letters like LOL and OMG! But we can't fault this younger generation anymore than we could fault those kids of the twenties. This is their time and era. It was technology then as it's technology now that has given these two decades their unique qualities.
So go on, fellow oldsters,don't sit around scratching your head in dismay; embrace the era that now belongs to your children and grandchildren.
I set Jazz Baby in the year 1925. It takes place in Mississippi and New Orleans. The Roaring Twenties have long fascinated me. I remember vividly the stories my grandparents used to share, regaling my then-young mind with tales of life in the 1920s and 1930s. Over the years, I've done much research on the era--especially when preparing to write Jazz Baby. I've read books and magazines about the era, watched documentaries containing actual flappers and hepcats from those bygone days. Those oldsters sure come alive when discussing that golden decade. The reason? Everything was new.
Those who came up in the twenties witnessed the birth of America as we know it today. Prior to the 1920s, if you wanted to take a trip into town, you likely had to hitch up the horses to the wagon and hope to get back before sundown or rain. If you wanted to hear the latest music, you'd purchase the sheet music at your local music store and play it at home on the family piano. Mom or sis usually knew how to play. A night out for couples might consist of dinner and a walk through the park. Man had saloons in which to drown his sorrows if he'd yet to find that special girl to call on. He'd not likely meet her in said saloon, though, since no self-respecting woman would be caught dead--or alive--in a saloon. Besides, many communities had laws against women entering drinking establishments.
But everything changed after the First World War ended, when the dawn of the 1920s rolled in with a great big bang. Horse and wagon? Not anymore. The twenties saw the automobile become a common fixture among families all across the nation. A trip into town could be had simply by climbing into the Model T and driving there. And you could even drive to the next town and still be home before sundown. Dinner and a walk through the park gave way to picture shows on the big screen. Theaters sprouted up in every city, every town, every village. For a dime, a patron might catch the latest Clara Bow film or laugh at Charlie Chaplin. Who needed the park anymore?
The decade witnessed the birth of radio and the mass production of the phonograph player, which allowed common folks the ability to hear the latest popular songs--played by a full band--right there in the parlor of their own home.
Prohibition brought an end to the saloon. But prohibition also gave birth to the speakeasy, that secret place where the young congregated to drink their bootleg hooch, learn all the latest moves out on those makeshift dance floors, and stay out until all hours of the night. Speakeasies didn't belong to men; they were shared adventures.
In 1920, after decades of political denial, beatings, and even jailings, women had finally won the right to vote. They had gained a grip on the taut strings of power.
Flappers dictated the latest fashion trends, taking the hemline higher and the neckline lower. Sexuality slipped into polite company in ways that once scandalized earlier generations. Even Hollywood dared a little more skin in the productions they peddled equally to small towns and big cities. The young ones coming up in that decade knew of no other way. It was a new and exciting time to come of age.
As I pondered the interview question, it struck me that those youngsters coming up in the Roaring Twenties had a lot more in common with young adults growing up in the decade of the 2000s than most might suspect. Today's young, born in the 1990's, can't recall a time when smart phones, x-box, or the internet didn't exist. They've always had social media, iPods, and cable TV with its 500 channels. It's a new age, and they were born into it.
Some of us are old enough to remember television with its three channels, phone calls made from payphones, and a time when Atari's Pong was the only video game on the market. Computers? They were for managing household budgets and little else. When you needed information, you had to go to the library, search the card catalog, find the book or resource material, and turn pages to find the info.
We wrote letters to friends and loved ones--using paper and pencil, full words, and proper sentences. We didn't text short messages filled with letters like LOL and OMG! But we can't fault this younger generation anymore than we could fault those kids of the twenties. This is their time and era. It was technology then as it's technology now that has given these two decades their unique qualities.
So go on, fellow oldsters,don't sit around scratching your head in dismay; embrace the era that now belongs to your children and grandchildren.
March 18, 2013
Seeing Results
Hear that? All that hooting and hollering is coming from ME! Wanna know why? Because I'm finally seeing results. Oh, sure, they're small results, but that's better than no results.
So what are these results I'm going on about? My novel, Jazz Baby, has finally cracked a Top Ten list. The list isn't sales, mind you; it's a list that monitors views of indie books on Amazon and The Indie Tribe sites. Jazz Baby is currently at number seven on the chart. The great hope is that the buzz will eventually result in sales, which will lead to satisfied readers. As I said, it's a small result. But I'm STILL excited about it.
And a great big huge congratulations to fellow Goodreads author Sienna Rose. Her fantastic novel, Bridge Ices Before Road,, clocked in at number nine on that same Indie Tribe chart. If you're interested, I've reviewed Sienna's novel on my My Books section. Click on over and take a look-see. If you're interested in getting a look at the Indie Tribe chart, go to http://www.theindietribe.wordpress.com and click on the Top Ten Indie Books link at the top of the page. Want a look at Jazz Baby? Take a peek at http://www.tinyurl.com/bbj4my7 Get a FREE read of chapter one at http://www.freshinkgroup.com/books/ja....
I am truly thankful to those who have purchased Jazz Baby, and to those who have at least shown an interest in it by pulling it up at Amazon. Thanks a bunch!
So what are these results I'm going on about? My novel, Jazz Baby, has finally cracked a Top Ten list. The list isn't sales, mind you; it's a list that monitors views of indie books on Amazon and The Indie Tribe sites. Jazz Baby is currently at number seven on the chart. The great hope is that the buzz will eventually result in sales, which will lead to satisfied readers. As I said, it's a small result. But I'm STILL excited about it.
And a great big huge congratulations to fellow Goodreads author Sienna Rose. Her fantastic novel, Bridge Ices Before Road,, clocked in at number nine on that same Indie Tribe chart. If you're interested, I've reviewed Sienna's novel on my My Books section. Click on over and take a look-see. If you're interested in getting a look at the Indie Tribe chart, go to http://www.theindietribe.wordpress.com and click on the Top Ten Indie Books link at the top of the page. Want a look at Jazz Baby? Take a peek at http://www.tinyurl.com/bbj4my7 Get a FREE read of chapter one at http://www.freshinkgroup.com/books/ja....
I am truly thankful to those who have purchased Jazz Baby, and to those who have at least shown an interest in it by pulling it up at Amazon. Thanks a bunch!
